Is Aston Martin attempting to sway reigning World Champion, Max Verstappen, into their fold? Helmut Marko, the Red Bull racing advisor, seems to think so. He suggests that Aston Martin is leveraging Verstappen’s fascination with their GT3 car to entice him into their team. Moreover, Marko considers this a logical move, given that any competitive team would be eager to sign the world champion.
Last year, rumors swirled around Verstappen potentially leaving for Mercedes. However, the 2022 Formula 1 rumor mill has started churning around Aston Martin being his preferred destination.
According to the Daily Mail, Jefferson Slack, the Managing Director of Commercial and Marketing at Aston Martin, has been enticing potential sponsors with the idea that Verstappen, a four-time F1 World Champion, is on the brink of joining their team. The report suggests a colossal deal of around $1 billion is allegedly on the table.
In response, Aston Martin emphatically denied these claims. An Aramco spokesperson for Aston Martin told PlanetF1.com that the story was categorically untrue.
Despite the denial, a potential alliance between Verstappen and Aston Martin may not be as far-fetched as it appears. Marko confirmed that discussions have taken place between Verstappen and the British car manufacturer, but these talks revolve around GT cars.
Marko told Motorsport-Total, “Officially, there has been contact because of Max’s passion for GT racing.” He added, “As we know, Max is a team owner and regularly drives GT cars himself.”
The Aston Martin GT3 car has apparently caught Verstappen’s interest and has now become part of his GT racing program. However, this doesn’t dismiss the possibility that talk of the GT3 car may have veered into potential Formula 1 plans.
Marko said, “The GT3 was the lure,” and went on to say, “And it is no secret that [Adrian] Newey is a big fan of Max. And then it’s only logical that you make him an offer.”
Marko voiced skepticism about the rumored $1 billion bid, particularly considering Aston Martin’s current share price. However, he acknowledged that the offer was substantial.
Given Newey’s role in the team and his penchant for certain drivers, it would make sense for Aston Martin to at least try to tempt Verstappen with an offer. Notably, Verstappen clinched all his Drivers’ Championship titles in Red Bull F1 cars designed by Newey, with 2025’s RB21 being the first car since 2007 not crafted by the British designer.
During the F1 75 livery launch, Verstappen also addressed the rumors surrounding his association with Aston Martin. He confirmed that his discussions with the car manufacturer were purely about GT racing. He stated, “The only contact I had with Aston Martin was about GT3 for this year, that’s it.” Shortly thereafter, the F1 champion put the Aston Martin GT3 to the test in a private trial.
